It was only when two of its four members were about to retire from the field of amateur music, however, that the APO, then known as the Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, finally had a city-wide audience. One of them was scheduled to leave for Turkey as an exchange student. The other had a position waiting for him in his father's advertising firm.
Why a talented young man of 21 would want to go to Turkey, every young man in the early seventies would probably understand. But what the APO could not understand was their fourth member's decision to leave the irresponsibility of being unemployed to join the ranks of the corporate world.
The trip to Turkey did not materialize and the APO, now a tentative trio, pushed on steadily towards fame and fortune.
Looking back, the APO members Danny Javier, Boboy Garrovillo, and Jim Paredes do not regret never having been regular wage earners. Their farewell concert, which had SRO audiences for two stormy nights, not unexpectedly became a hit record the following year.
In the three decades since that "farewell" concert, the APO has made 22 record albums; hosted several television shows including their own noontime Sunday show "Sa Linggo nAPO Sila"; and launched hugely successful major solo concerts and countless provincial, dinner, and corporate shows. They have performed in over 50 cities in the United States, in Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Japan to bring Original Pilipino Music to Filipinos the world over.
In October of 1987, during their annual US tour, the APO became the first Filipino pop artists to perform at the Main Hall of New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall. They also performed at the equally prestigious Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada's music capital. Both concerts, as well as the other shows held during that particular concert tour, were sold out. The APO were also the first Filipino artists to perform in a public concert in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1987, they were one of the first Filipino artists to be recorded on compact disc. And in 1994, they were awarded the first Dangal ng Musikang Pilipino by Awit Awards - the Filipino equivalent of the Grammy. They have also been conferred the Tanglaw Ng Lahi Award, the highest accolade given by Jesuits in the field of culture and arts.
The APO also earned international recognition for Jim Paredes' anthem on the bloodless Philippine revolution in 1986. "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" was recorded by 15 Filipino artists in April 1986. A few months later, the English version "A New and Better Way" was launched in Australia. In February 1987, the first anniversary of the Philippines' People Power revolution, the song was released in London, England. The lyrics of the song are embedded on a wall of Our Lady of Edsa Shrine, the center of the revolution.
Just a Smile Away
Apo Hiking Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I knew somewhere we'd get together
One smile that's all it takes
And a chill goes down my spine that says forever
When you're near, ooh or far away from me
There's a closeness that I feel because I'm sure you're just a smile away
Just a smile away
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart
One touch gives such a thrill
That the things I want to say I have to whisper Ooh one kiss and love begins
And the dream becomes so real it's never ending
Cause when you're near, ooh or far away from me
There's a closeness that I feel because I'm sure, so sure
You're just a smile away, just a smile away
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart
Just a smile away, just a smile away
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart, my heart
One look and a smile and a word and a touch and a kiss
And then I'm so sure...
You're just a smile away, just a smile away
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart (straight to my heart)
Just a smile away, just a smile away
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart
Just a smile away
The lyrics to Apo Hiking Society's song Just a Smile Away are about the power of a smile and its ability to bring people together. The first verse talks about how just one look and one smile can bring two people together and create a feeling of closeness. It also mentions how this feeling of closeness persists even when the person is far away. The second verse stresses how one touch, one kiss, and whispers of love can make the dream of being together a reality.
The chorus repeats the phrase "just a smile away" several times, emphasizing the power of a smile to convey love and make a connection between two people. The line "a smile that blows a kiss into my heart" adds a layer of intimacy and vulnerability to the song, suggesting that the singer is deeply affected by the love and affection he feels from the other person's smile.
Overall, the song is about the feelings of love and closeness that can be conveyed through nonverbal communication, such as a smile. The lyrics suggest that love is a powerful force that can create a deep connection between people, even when they are physically apart.
Line by Line Meaning
One look that's all it took
A single glance from you and I knew we would end up together
And I knew somewhere we'd get together
My heart was immediately drawn to you, and I was certain we would meet again
One smile that's all it takes
Your smile alone is enough to make me feel an overwhelming connection to you
And a chill goes down my spine that says forever
The feeling I get when I see you smile lets me know that our love will last forever
When you're near, ooh or far away from me
No matter how close or far apart we are, I still feel a strong bond with you
There's a closeness that I feel because I'm sure you're just a smile away
I feel like you are always nearby, just waiting to share your beautiful smile with me
Just a smile away
Everything we need to feel close and connected to each other is just a smile away
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart
Your smile has the power to make me fall even deeper in love with you and feel it deep in my heart
One touch gives such a thrill
The gentlest touch from you sends shivers down my spine and fills me with excitement
That the things I want to say I have to whisper
Your touch fills me with so much emotion that I can't even express it in words
Ooh one kiss and love begins
A single kiss from you is all it takes for me to fully realize my love for you
And the dream becomes so real it's never ending
Our love feels like a dream come true, so beautiful and perfect that it could never end
One look and a smile and a word and a touch and a kiss
All it takes is one look, smile, word, touch, or kiss from you to make me feel whole and happy
And then I'm so sure...
I become completely sure that our love will last forever and always be beautiful
Just a smile away, just a smile away
All it takes is one smile from you to make me feel completely connected to you
A smile that blows a kiss into my heart (straight to my heart)
Your smile has the power to make me feel like you are blowing a kiss directly into my heart
Just a smile away
No matter what happens in life, I know that everything I need to feel happy and close to you is just a simple smile away
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bernadette Arcena-Jacinto
on Blue Jeans
a sa on sa ondai.